II 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 5195 

To establish a verifiable international terrestrial ecosystem services conservation program and provide international technical assistance for the development of markets, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 25, 2024 

Mr. CARDIN introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

A BILL 

To establish a verifiable international terrestrial ecosystem 

services conservation program and provide international 

technical assistance for the development of markets, and 

for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Combatting Global De5 forestation Act of 2024’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 


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1 (1) Forests are a vital to the ecological health 

2 of the Earth, biodiversity, the protection of water 

3 and soil quality, the prevention of erosion and dan4 gerous landslides, the production of oxygen, the reg5 ulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and the 

6 regulation of the global system. 

7 (2) Forests are a critical natural resource that, 

8 when appropriately managed and conserved, provide 

9 significant economic, cultural, health, and commu10 nity benefits to humanity. 

11 (3) Since the start of the 20th century, an esti12 mated 3,900,000 square miles of forest have been 

13 lost due to human activities, including land conver14 sions for agricultural production, cattle ranching, 

15 logging, land development, and extractive industrial 

16 activities such as mining and fossil fuel extraction. 

17 (4) Since 2000, 23 percent of global tree cov18 erage loss has been the result of deforestation in19 cluding— 

20 (A) 48 percent in Brazil; 

21 (B) 50 percent in Argentina; 

22 (C) 89 percent in the Philippines; and 

23 (D) 96 percent in Indonesia. 

24 (5) Deforestation disproportionately affects— 


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1 (A) critical habitats and ecosystems for 

2 critically endangered species such as Sumatran 

3 Elephants and Orangutans in Indonesia; 

4 (B) the health and quality of water re5 sources through the alteration of critical eco6 system services to hydrological systems, includ7 ing slowing stormwater runoff into surface 

8 waters and providing natural filtration for fall9 en precipitation that infiltrates groundwater re10 sources; and 

11 (C) approximately 370,000,000 people in 

12 indigenous communities that rely on naturally 

13 forested lands that are historically and cul14 turally significant and provide community and 

15 economic opportunities, sustenance, medicinal 

16 resources and spiritual connection; 

17 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

18 In this Act: 

19 (1) ADDITIONALITY.—The term ‘‘additionality’’ 

20 means emissions reductions or other terrestrial eco21 system services in developing countries that would 

22 not have occurred but for activities to reduce green23 house gas emissions in partner developing countries 

24 funded and made possible by funding provided pur25 suant to section 5. 


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1 (2) APPROPRIATE LOCAL PARTNER.—The term 

2 ‘‘appropriate local partner’’ means any relevant sub3 national government, local authority, indigenous 

4 community, non-governmental entity, or private 

5 landowner in a partner developing country com6 mitted to and capable of achieving the goals de7 scribed in section 4(b). 

8 (3) COUNTRY OF CONCERN.—The term ‘‘coun9 try of concern’’ means the government or ruling 

10 party of any of the following countries: 

11 (A) The Russian Federation. 

12 (B) The People’s Republic of China. 

13 (C) The Democratic People’s Republic of 

14 Korea. 

15 (D) The Islamic Republic of Iran. 

16 (E) The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. 

17 (F) The Republic of Cuba. 

18 (4) DEFORESTATION.—The term ‘‘deforest19 ation’’ means a change in land use, including forest 

20 fragmentation and forest degradation, from a forest 

21 to any other land use. 

22 (5) ELIGIBLE PROJECT.—The term ‘‘eligible 

23 project’’ means a verifiable and measurable national 

24 or subnational activity developed or executed by the 

25 central government, subnational government, local 


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1 authority, indigenous community, non-governmental 

2 entity, private landowner, or any group of such per3 sons in a partner developing country that supports 

4 enhancing terrestrial ecosystem services. 

5 (6) EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS.—The term ‘‘emis6 sions reductions’’ means greenhouse gas emissions 

7 reductions and increased sequestration achieved 

8 from— 

9 (A) reduced, or avoided deforestation; 

10 (B) reforestation; 

11 (C) preservation of terrestrial ecosystems; 

12 or 

13 (D) enhancements to terrestrial ecosystems 

14 that will result in the increased sequestration of 

15 greenhouse gas emissions. 

16 (7) FOREST DEGRADATION.—The term ‘‘forest 

17 degradation’’ means any reduction in forest stocks 

18 due to the effects of human land-use activities, in19 cluding land-use changes driven by human activity. 

20 (8) NATURE-BASED SOLUTION.—The term ‘‘na21 ture-based solution’’ means an activity within a part22 ner developing country to conserve, restore, or better 

23 manage forests and terrestrial ecosystems to improve 

24 terrestrial ecosystem services. 


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1 (9) OUTCOME-ORIENTED ASSISTANCE.—The 

2 term ‘‘outcome-oriented assistance’’ means a mecha3 nism for the provision of United States assistance in 

4 which— 

5 (A) a partner developing country, or ap6 propriate local partner in a developing country, 

7 assumes responsibility and must demonstrate 

8 the achievement of measurable results, or 

9 progress towards the achievement of conserva10 tion goals, that improve terrestrial ecosystem 

11 services associated with activities of an eligible 

12 project; 

13 (B) such measurable results are defined 

14 and agreed upon in a multi-year agreement, 

15 and described in section 4(d) of this Act, in ad16 vance of the provision of assistance by the 

17 United States for the eligible project; and 

18 (C) such assistance is expended to such de19 veloping country or appropriate local partner 

20 only upon independent verification of such pre21 defined results. 

22 (10) PARTNER DEVELOPING COUNTRY.—The 

23 term ‘‘partner developing country’’ means— 

24 (A) a country eligible to receive official de25 velopment assistance according to the income 


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1 guidelines of the Development Assistance Com2 mittee of the Organisation for Economic Co-op3 eration and Development; or 

4 (B) any other country identified by the 

5 Secretary with globally significant forests or 

6 terrestrial ecosystems the loss of which is, or 

7 has the potential to, significantly contribute to 

8 the loss of terrestrial ecosystem services. 

9 (11) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Program’’ means 

10 the program established pursuant to section 4(a). 

11 (12) TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS.— 

12 (A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘terrestrial 

13 ecosystems’’ means naturally occurring grass14 lands, forests, tropical rainforests, mangroves, 

15 peatlands, or wetlands comprised of native spe16 cies generated and maintained primarily 

17 through natural ecological and evolutionary 

18 processes. 

19 (B) EXCLUSION.—The term ‘‘terrestrial 

20 ecosystems’’ does not include tree plantations, 

21 such as crops of trees planted by humans pri22 marily for the purposes of harvesting. 

23 (13) TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS SERVICES.— 

24 The term ‘‘terrestrial ecosystems services’’ means 


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1 the direct and indirect benefits that terrestrial eco2 systems provide to humans, including— 

3 (A) material or energy outputs from an 

4 ecosystem, including food, forage, fiber, fresh 

5 water, and other resources; 

6 (B) benefits obtained through moderation 

7 or control of ecosystem processes, including reg8 ulation of local climate, air quality, water qual9 ity, soil quality, emission reductions, natural 

10 carbon sequestration, flood control, erosion con11 trol, disease control, and pollination; 

12 (C) maintenance of fundamental ecosystem 

13 processes, such as habitat for plants and wild14 life, or the maintenance of genetic and biologi15 cal diversity; and 

16 (D) non-material benefits provided to 

17 human societies and culture, including opportu18 nities for recreation, tourism, aesthetic or artis19 tic appreciation, and spirituality. 

20 (14) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ 

21 means the Secretary of State. 


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1 SEC. 4. VERIFIED INTERNATIONAL FOREST ECOSYSTEM 

2 SERVICES CONSERVATION PROGRAM. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a 

4 program, to be known as the ‘‘Verified International For5 est Ecosystem Services Conservation Program’’. 

6 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Program shall 

7 be— 

8 (1) to enhance efforts to halt terrestrial eco9 system degradation and loss, and increase terrestrial 

10 restoration at scale; 

11 (2) to provide contingent outcome-oriented as12 sistance for the achievement of eligible projects in 

13 partner developing countries through incentives and 

14 assistance to halt terrestrial ecosystem loss; and 

15 (3) to enhance restoration of terrestrial eco16 systems. 

17 (c) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary shall develop 

18 the criteria, guidelines, and processes necessary to imple19 ment the Program. 

20 (d) GOALS.—In carrying out the program established 

21 pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary shall work with 

22 the governments of partner developing countries and ap23 propriate local partners to identify, develop, and imple24 ment eligible projects that will or have the potential— 

25 (1) to help partner developing countries meet 

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1 cluding efforts to achieve emissions reductions and 

2 enhance net natural sequestration capacity associ3 ated with deforestation; 

4 (2) to enhance terrestrial ecosystem services; 

5 (3) to improve natural habitat for species; 

6 (4) to preserve culturally and ecologically 

7 unique forested lands, including forests containing 

8 rare, threatened, or endangered plant species; 

9 (5) to contribute to cooperative efforts to con10 serve and restore natural forests and other terres11 trial ecosystems that provide local, regional, and 

12 global environmental and health benefits; 

13 (6) to provide a counterbalance to investments 

14 from any country of concern in activities that utilize 

15 destructive industrial practices that degrade or de16 stroy natural forests and other terrestrial ecosystems 

17 in partner developing countries; and 

18 (7) to reduce illegal deforestation. 

19 (e) OUTCOME-ORIENTED ASSISTANCE.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible project shall 

21 qualify for outcome-oriented assistance under the 

22 Program if— 

23 (A) in the determination of the Secretary, 

24 the partner developing country or appropriate 

25 local partner will be able to fulfill its obligations 


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1 under a multi-year agreement described in sub2 section (d) in support of an eligible project 

3 through the Program, including (as applicable) 

4 with respect to— 

5 (i) standards of governance and re6 spect for rule of law in the partner devel7 oping country; 

8 (ii) environmental and social safe9 guards; and 

10 (iii) safeguarding against the potential 

11 for corruption or misuse of assistance pro12 vided under this section; 

13 (B) the eligible project is appropriately de14 signed to use outcome-oriented assistance; 

15 (C) the partner developing country or ap16 propriate local partner, as applicable, agrees— 

17 (i) to abide by transparency require18 ments with respect to the use of funds re19 ceived under the program established pur20 suant to subsection (a); 

21 (ii) to fulfill measuring, reporting, and 

22 verification requirements, including inde23 pendent third-party verification, necessary 

24 to provide outcome-oriented assistance; 


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1 (iii) to report publicly any data with 

2 respect to deforestation associated emis3 sions reductions achieved under such pro4 gram, in accordance with reporting re5 quirements of or commitments of a partner 

6 developing country under relevant inter7 national agreements; 

8 (iv) to ensure that women, indigenous 

9 communities, and other local stakeholders, 

10 as applicable, are empowered and enabled 

11 to meaningfully participate in the develop12 ment, implementation, and potential bene13 fits of the eligible project; and 

14 (v) to disclose any debt the applicant 

15 may owe to any entity known to be owned 

16 or controlled by a country of concern, in17 cluding loan amounts, duration, rates, and 

18 contractual provisions; 

19 (D) the eligible project enhances terrestrial 

20 ecosystems in a manner that can be verified 

21 and realizes outcomes that may contribute to 

22 meeting the relevant international commitments 

23 of the partner developing country; and 

24 (E) with respect to subparagraph (C)(v), 

25 the partner developing country or appropriate 


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1 local partner agrees that the assistance pro2 vided under this section may not be used to am3 ortize any loan principal owed to any entity 

4 known to be owned or controlled by the country 

5 of concern. 

6 (2) IMPACT OF INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.— 

7 The presence of indigenous communities subsisting, 

8 and engaging in sustainable economic activities, on 

9 the lands of an eligible project shall not— 

10 (A) be infringed by activities conducted in 

11 association with an eligible project; or 

12 (B) impact the qualification of an eligible 

13 project. 

14 (3) ADDITIONAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.—Any ad15 ditional economic activity pursued on the lands of an 

16 eligible project may be permissible if such activities 

17 are carried out in accordance with the goals de18 scribed in subsection (d). 

19 (4) ADDITIONAL FORMS OF QUALIFICATION FOR

20 OUTCOME-ORIENTED ASSISTANCE.—Notwithstanding 

21 paragraph (1), an eligible project may qualify for 

22 outcome-oriented assistance under this subsection 

23 if— 

24 (A) the eligible project includes a combina25 tion or aggregation of existing activities that 


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1 align with the goals described in subsection (d) 

2 such that the total of such projects contributes 

3 to the full national or, on an interim basis, sub4 national territory in the partner developing 

5 country; or 

6 (B) the eligible project is nested into the 

7 accounting and reporting of an existing national 

8 or sub-national program or activity in the part9 ner developing country, including with regard to 

10 safeguard requirements and any transfer of 

11 verifiable environmental credits that qualify for 

12 use or transfer under internationally recognized 

13 systems that may meet the international envi14 ronmental commitments of the partner devel15 oping country, without regard to whether the el16 igible project is below the subnational level or 

17 scale. 

18 (5) PRIVATE OR PARTNER COUNTRY CONTRIBU19 TION SUPPORT REQUIREMENT.— 

20 (A) IN GENERAL.—Outcome-oriented as21 sistance shall only be granted to eligible 

22 projects that secure additional funding from 

23 sources other than the United States Govern24 ment in an amount that is not less than the 10 

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1 vided out of the fund established under sub2 section (h) for the eligible project based on the 

3 terms of the multi-year agreement of such eligi4 ble project 

5 (B) PRIVATE PARTNERS.—The Secretary 

6 is encouraged— 

7 (i) to include private sector partners 

8 as supporters of eligible projects; and 

9 (ii) to facilitate the security of finan10 cial commitments from private contribu11 tions, which shall be counted toward the 

12 requirement under subparagraph (A) for 

13 an eligible project. 

14 (6) PARTNERSHIPS WITH MULTILATERAL PRO15 GRAMS.—The Secretary may partner with multilat16 eral or multi-donor programs to jointly support an 

17 eligible project under this subsection. 

18 (7) DOUBLE COUNTING OF ASSISTANCE.—The 

19 Secretary shall take such steps as may be nec20 essary— 

21 (A) to prevent the double counting of, or 

22 double payment for, results from eligible 

23 projects that also may receive funds from other 

24 sources, including in accordance with relevant 

25 international guidelines and rules; and 


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1 (B) to ensure that the assistance provided 

2 under this section and eligible projects are 

3 interoperable and do not supplant or compete 

4 with the achievement of country-level commit5 ments under international agreements. 

6 (f) MULTI-YEAR AGREEMENTS GOVERNING THE

7 PROVISION OF OUTCOME-ORIENTED ASSISTANCE.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—Upon determining that an 

9 eligible project qualifies for outcome-oriented assist10 ance, the Secretary is authorized to enter into a 

11 multi-year agreement with a partner developing 

12 country, or appropriate local partners in the partner 

13 developing country, to determine the terms and con14 ditions for which the provision of outcome-oriented 

15 assistance, in the form of grants from the fund es16 tablished in subsection (h), may be administered to 

17 support an eligible project. 

18 (2) PRIORITIZATION.—The Secretary is encour19 aged to prioritize consideration of entering multi20 year agreements for eligible projects that would di21 rectly or indirectly combat illegal deforestation or 

22 counter malicious influence from a country of con23 cern in a partner developing country. 

24 (3) THIRD-PARTY LEVERAGE OF FUNDS.—The 

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1 year agreements for eligible projects that include 

2 terms that leverage funding from non-profits, busi3 nesses, other developed countries, and multilateral 

4 financing and development agencies. 

5 (4) ADDITIONAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES WITHIN

6 AN ELIGIBLE PROJECT.—Multi-year agreements 

7 shall— 

8 (A) permit economic activities within the 

9 area of an eligible project; and 

10 (B) seek assurances that the conduct of 

11 such economic activities does not degrade the 

12 effectiveness of an eligible project in accordance 

13 with the goals described in subsection (d). 

14 (5) TERMS.—In negotiating multi-year agree15 ments under this subsection, the Secretary shall do 

16 the following: 

17 (A) RECIPROCAL COMMITMENT.—The Sec18 retary shall take steps to ensure that the part19 ner developing country or appropriate local 

20 partners in the partner developing country, as 

21 applicable, reciprocate the commitments to 

22 achieving the goals described in subsection (d). 

23 (B) DURATION OF AGREEMENT.—The Sec24 retary— 


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1 (i) shall negotiate and reach a mutu2 ally agreed upon term-length for each 

3 multi-year agreement; 

4 (ii) may renegotiate and re-enter a 

5 multi-year agreement prior to or after the 

6 terms and dates of the multi-year agree7 ment expire; and 

8 (iii) shall seek assurances that the 

9 agreed upon goals and objectives for en10 hancing terrestrial ecosystem services 

11 achieved through the relevant eligible 

12 project will last in perpetuity. 

13 (C) RIGHT TO TITLE.—The Secretary may 

14 negotiate for the United States to own and con15 trol title to the greenhouse gas emission reduc16 tions associated with the activities of an eligible 

17 project for the purposes of counting such reduc18 tions toward the international emission reduc19 tion commitments of the United States. 

20 (6) TERMINATION.—An agreement under this 

21 subsection may be unilaterally terminated by the 

22 Secretary if— 

23 (A) the Secretary determines that the part24 ner developing country or a appropriate local 

25 partner is failing or has failed to uphold the 


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1 terms and conditions established for the eligible 

2 project; or 

3 (B) the Secretary— 

4 (i) determines that the eligible project 

5 is not in the national interest of the United 

6 States; and 

7 (ii) submits to Congress a notification 

8 of such determination. 

9 (g) REVIEWS AND REPORTS.— 

10 (1) PERIODIC REVIEWS.—The Secretary shall 

11 periodically review and evaluate the progress of eligi12 ble projects— 

13 (A) to ensure that eligible projects are pro14 ceeding successfully and appropriately main15 tained; 

16 (B) to account for and adapt to 

17 externalities that could prevent an eligible 

18 project from meeting its objectives; and 

19 (C) to advise proponents of an eligible 

20 projects in planning and executing the eligible 

21 project in accordance with this Act. 

22 (2) TRANSPARENCY.—The Secretary shall— 

23 (A) make publicly available a list of funds 

24 made available under the Program; and 


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1 (B) update on an annual basis the 

2 progress or any lack of progress in the imple3 mentation of the eligible projects corresponding 

4 to such funds and the achievement of the goals 

5 described in subsection (d). 

6 (3) PUBLISHED CERTIFICATION OF PARTNER7 SHIP.—The Secretary shall annually publish and 

8 provide certificates of contribution to private donors 

9 that contribute funds that support eligible projects 

10 detailed in multi-year agreements that include— 

11 (A) the amount of funds the private donor 

12 contributed to the eligible project for each cal13 endar year that funds were provided; 

14 (B) the location of the eligible project in15 cluding country and region; 

16 (C) the partner developing country or ap17 propriate local partner that is signatory to the 

18 multi-year agreement for which the private 

19 donor is contributing funds for work on an eli20 gible project; and 

21 (D) a summary of the environmental im22 pact of the eligible project including— 

23 (i) the size in acres of terrestrial eco24 systems that are being protected or re25 stored; 


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1 (ii) the significance of such protected 

2 or restored terrestrial ecosystems; and 

3 (iii) the verified amount of carbon se4 questered by the supported project. 

5 (h) DUPLICATION OF EFFORTS.—In carrying out the 

6 program under this section, the Secretary shall consult as 

7 appropriate with the Administrator of the United States 

8 Agency for International Development to avoid duplicative 

9 foreign aid efforts, particularly for conservation funds. 

10 (i) TRUST FUND.—There is established in the Treas11 ury of the United States a fund to be known as the 

12 ‘‘Verified International Terrestrial Ecosystem Services 

13 Conservation Fund’’, which shall consist of— 

14 (1) amounts appropriated pursuant to the au15 thorization in subsection (j)(1) to carry out this sec16 tion; and 

17 (2) such gifts, bequests, or devises of property 

18 for the benefit of, or in connection with carrying out 

19 this section as the Secretary may accept in the form 

20 of donations by individuals or entities, including pri21 vate entities, non-profit entities, other developed 

22 countries, and multinational entities. 

23 (j) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

24 (1) AUTHORIZATION.—There is authorized to 

25 be appropriated to carry out this section— 


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1 (A) $875,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; 

2 (B) $875,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; 

3 (C) $875,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; and 

4 (D) $875,000,000 for fiscal year 2027. 

5 (2) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts appropriated to 

6 carry out this section are authorized to remain avail7 able until expended and shall be used solely for the 

8 purposes of this section. 

9 (3) SALARIES AND EXPENSES.—Of the amounts 

10 made available for any fiscal year pursuant to the 

11 authorization under paragraph (1), not more than 

12 $4,000,000 is authorized to be made available for 

13 the salaries and expenses to carry out this section. 

14 (k) NATURAL FOREST REFERENCE BASELINE FOR

15 ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.— 

16 (1) PROPOSALS FOR NATURAL FOREST REF17 ERENCE BASELINE.— 

18 (A) IN GENERAL.—To receive outcome-ori19 ented assistance under this section for an eligi20 ble project qualified to receive outcome-oriented 

21 assistance pursuant to subsection (e), a partner 

22 developing country or appropriate local partner 

23 shall submit to the Secretary a proposal for a 

24 forest reference level baseline that is credible, 

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1 ates and establishes a forest reference level 

2 baseline of an eligible project in accordance 

3 with the criteria established by the Secretary 

4 under paragraph (2). 

5 (B) DETERMINATION BY SECRETARY.— 

6 (i) IN GENERAL.—After receipt of a 

7 proposal under subparagraph (A), the Sec8 retary shall determine whether the forest 

9 reference level baseline meets the criteria 

10 under paragraph (2). 

11 (ii) PROVISION OF OUTCOME-ORI12 ENTED ASSISTANCE APPROVED FOREST

13 REFERENCE LEVEL BASELINE.—If the 

14 Secretary determines under clause (i) that 

15 the proposed forest reference level baseline 

16 meets the criteria under paragraph (2), the 

17 Secretary may provide outcome-oriented 

18 assistance for such eligible project to the 

19 developing country or appropriate local 

20 partner in accordance with this section. 

21 (iii) FAILURE TO MEET CRITERIA.— 

22 (I) IN GENERAL.—If the Sec23 retary determines under clause (i) 

24 that the proposed forest reference 

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1 teria under paragraph (2), the Sec2 retary may negotiate with the partner 

3 developing country or appropriate 

4 local partner to reach an agreement 

5 on a forest reference level baseline for 

6 the eligible project in accordance with 

7 paragraph (2). 

8 (II) PROVISION OF OUTCOME9 ORIENTED ASSISTANCE FOR AGREED

10 FOREST REFERENCE LEVEL BASE11 LINE.—Once an agreement has been 

12 reached under subclause (I), the Sec13 retary may provide outcome-oriented 

14 assistance for the eligible project to 

15 the developing country or appropriate 

16 local partner in accordance with this 

17 section. 

18 (2) BASELINE CRITERIA.—The Secretary shall 

19 establish criteria for each forest reference level base20 line proposed, which shall include requirements that 

21 the forest reference level baseline— 

22 (A) is used to account for the net size of 

23 forested lands or significant naturally vegetated 

24 lands achieved from the eligible project; 


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1 (B) is national, or subnational on an in2 terim basis, in scope; 

3 (C) is consistent with the environmental 

4 stewardship commitments, targets, or actions 

5 that are appropriate for the partner developing 

6 country with respect to combatting deforest7 ation or loss of terrestrial ecosystem services— 

8 (i) taking into consideration the aver9 age annual historical emissions and remov10 als associated with the forests, and other 

11 terrestrial ecosystems, as applicable, of the 

12 partner developing country during a period 

13 of at least 5 years; and 

14 (ii) if appropriate, using the relevant 

15 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Green16 house Gas Inventories published by the 

17 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate 

18 Change to determine applicable drivers of 

19 deforestation and land use conversion; 

20 (D) establishes a trajectory that would re21 sult in zero net deforestation by not later than 

22 10 years after the date on which the baseline is 

23 established; 


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1 (E) is updated not less frequently than 

2 once every 5 years to account for changing cir3 cumstances in the developing country; 

4 (F) accounts for the size of forested areas 

5 based on— 

6 (i) remaining natural forest land; 

7 (ii) conversions of other lands to or 

8 from natural forest land; and 

9 (iii) any other land-use category esti10 mated to contribute at least 10 percent of 

11 agriculture, forestry, and other land use 

12 emissions in the project area; and 

13 (G) takes into consideration existing or 

14 planned terrestrial ecosystem services or forest 

15 conservation or restoration projects as described 

16 in subsection (e) in a partner developing coun17 try and the effect those projects might have in 

18 determining protection or restoration activities 

19 with respect to terrestrial ecosystem services 

20 and establishing a forest reference level baseline 

21 for eligible projects funded under this Act. 

22 SEC. 5. NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the United 

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1 vide technical assistance to build the capacities of partner 

2 developing countries and appropriate local partners to im3 prove conservation, natural forest management, and res4 toration of natural forests and other terrestrial ecosystems 

5 for the purposes of— 

6 (1) enhancing the terrestrial ecosystem services 

7 and sustainable economic value of such natural re8 sources; and 

9 (2) facilitating the preparation of eligible 

10 projects in accordance with section 4. 

11 (b) ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES.—In conducting the pro12 gram described in subsection (a), the Administrator of the 

13 United States Agency for International Development may 

14 provide technical support to partner developing countries 

15 and appropriate local partners for the following activities: 

16 (1) Reducing deforestation related emissions, 

17 forest fragmentation, and forest degradation of sig18 nificant forests within a partner developing country. 

19 (2) Enhancing the natural carbon sequestration 

20 ability of the natural forests and the terrestrial eco21 system services of a potential eligible project within 

22 a partner developing country, and building resilience. 

23 (3) Monitoring, reporting, and verification of 

24 the environmental, social, and financial quality and 


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1 integrity of the project as an important component 

2 of the work. 

3 (4) Assisting governments, willing, legitimate 

4 landowners, or willing customary use rights holders 

5 in developing projects to engage in conservation 

6 credit markets through— 

7 (A) the implementation of science-based 

8 metrics for determining that conservation ac9 tivities have generated verifiable environmental 

10 credits that may be sold to buyers on existing 

11 conservation compliance markets; or 

12 (B) projects providing outcome-oriented as13 sistance. 

14 (5) Developing domestic infrastructure and ca15 pacity building for creating and tracking conserva16 tion credits, such as registries or projects eligible for 

17 outcome-oriented assistance, and preparing countries 

18 to implement nature-based solution initiatives. 

19 (6) Ensuring that women, Indigenous Commu20 nities, and other local stakeholders are empowered 

21 and enabled to meaningfully participate and share in 

22 the potential benefits of activities funded under this 

23 section. 


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1 (7) Ensuring the additionality of projects, pro2 grams, and other activities made possible by funding 

3 provided pursuant to this section. 

4 (c) AUTHORIZATION.—There is authorized to be ap5 propriated $10,000,000 to carry out this section. 

Æ 


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